***
Isaac had received an urgent phone call from Katrina Smith, still up at Lord Penrith’s house in Leicestershire. ‘Malcolm Grenfell is here,’ she said.
‘What did he have to say for himself?’
‘He was drunk; he had a woman in the car. At first, I assumed it was his daughter.’
‘She’s not his daughter,’ Isaac said.
‘He thought I was part of the deal.’
‘Violent?’
‘He could have been.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Kneed him and punched him in the face.’
‘I didn’t know you were so tough.’
‘You’ve not checked out my history?’
‘No.’
‘Five years with the British Army, two of those in Iraq. I received training in unarmed combat and weaponry.’
‘Were you on the front line?’
‘Baghdad, field hospital.’
‘Tell me about Lord Penrith.’
‘The new one?’
‘Yes.’
‘He wanted to move in, spend the night. There wasn’t a lot I could do to stop him. I told him his brother was still in the house.’
‘They’ve not taken the body away yet?’
‘You would think it was royalty that had died. He is lying in state, and all the staff, local dignitaries, other members of the aristocracy are filing past. It’s macabre.’
‘Did Malcolm Grenfell want to see his brother?’
‘Hell he did. He was more interested in doing an inventory of anything valuable.’
‘Is he still there?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you leave?’
‘Not with his brother lying dead in the other room. Can you come up?’
‘It may be an excellent opportunity to meet Lord Penrith.’
Isaac arrived at the Penrith House at six in the evening. Katrina came out of the front door on seeing him arrive. She could not resist and gave him a hug and a kiss.
‘He’s impossible,’ she said.
‘What’s he done?’
‘He found the key to the wine cellar, and he’s down there with his woman. I took a look, and it was evident she is not his daughter. Both naked and covered in wine, almost like a bacchanalian orgy.
‘I’ll deal with it,’ Isaac said. Katrina had phoned the local police, but they were reluctant to intervene as the man was now the lord. Isaac knew what Wendy’s comment would have been.
Isaac walked down the stone steps to the basement. The two people at the bottom were unconscious drunk. Katrina came down, and they carried them both upstairs and put them to bed. Isaac assumed one bed would be sufficient for the pair.
‘They won’t have much to say until tomorrow,’ Katrina said.
‘No point going back now. Do you have a spare room?’ Isaac asked.
‘If you don’t mind sharing.’
Chapter 21
Kevin Solomon was not initially pleased to see Wendy and Larry. ‘What do you want?’ he asked.
‘A few more questions,’ Wendy said.
‘You’d better come in.’
‘How are you?’ Wendy attempted to lighten the sombre tone of the meeting.
‘You gave my phone number to my mother.’
‘She was concerned.’
‘Not concerned enough when she put me in that boarding school.’
‘What did you say to her?’
‘I was polite.’
‘Have you met her?’
‘I said I would. She sounded lonely.’
‘I think she is,’ Wendy said.
‘I was angry at the time, but now I'm all right,’ Kevin Solomon said. ‘Do you want a drink?’
‘Coffee for me,’ Larry said.
‘Make that two,’ Wendy added.
‘Mavis Richardson, it is assumed, will be the executor of Montague Grenfell’s will, and the proxy for his business and legal affairs.’
‘What has that to do with me?’
‘Your agreement with Montague. Was it watertight?’
‘I signed some papers, but I’ve been so spaced out for the last few years, I don’t know. He could have made me sign anything.’
‘That’s unlikely,’ Wendy said.
‘Why?’
‘We have had qualified people checking his paperwork. The man was meticulous, and there is no trace of his cheating anyone. And besides, you’re family.’
‘Illegitimate family, wrong side of the bed.’
‘It appears to be a minor distinction.’
‘Enough to keep my father from the title.’
‘Does that concern you?’
‘My mother said it upset him.’
‘What else did your mother say?’
‘Most of the time I was either drunk or injecting myself.’
‘Do you intend to stay clean?’
‘I spent two years at university studying law, one of my few clean periods. I plan to make sure my mother gets her fair share after my grandmother died. I don’t trust anyone.’
Wendy looked around the room. It was clear that Kevin Solomon had tidied the place, a sure sign that his mother was intending to visit. Wendy was pleased as animosity between mother and child is always unpleasant. Her sons had always been there for her except in their troublesome teens and early twenties. Then, it had been too much alcohol and wanting to bring females home. She had relaxed her strict rule on a couple of occasions, and an unknown female face at the breakfast table the next morning had given her a slight tinge of regret that she had agreed, but apart from that, it had been fine. Finally, she had drawn the line when two females and one son had presented themselves at the table one morning looking for bacon and eggs. She had made it clear that she was not a hotel nor a brothel, and if either son wanted to avail themselves of the local talent, they’d better find somewhere else.
Not that she could blame the females, as her sons took after their father with their rugged good looks, but threesomes in her house had been too much.
She had relented when her two boys had matured and settled down with steady girlfriends.
The funeral of her husband was scheduled for later in the week. She had asked Isaac to give a eulogy as he had met her husband several times over the years, and she knew he would say the right words. The sons
